Find out how popular the last name Palaniswamy is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Palaniswamy.

Palaniswamy, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Palaniswamy surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Palaniswamy in America

Palaniswamy is the 133863rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Palaniswamy surname appeared 126 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Palaniswamy.

The history of the last name Palaniswamy

The surname Palaniswamy is of Indian origin, specifically from the Tamil Nadu region of southern India. It is believed to have originated during the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century CE.

The name Palaniswamy is derived from the combination of two Tamil words: "Palani," which refers to a revered Hindu temple town located in the Western Ghats mountain range, and "swamy," meaning "lord" or "master." This suggests that the name may have been associated with individuals who held positions of authority or were devotees of the Palani temple.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Palaniswamy can be found in ancient Tamil literature, such as the Tevaram hymns composed by the Nayanars, a group of influential Tamil saints and mystics who lived between the 6th and 8th centuries CE. These hymns often mention places and individuals associated with the Palani temple.

In the 14th century, a famous Tamil scholar and poet known as Umapathi Sivacharya Palaniswamy composed several literary works, including commentaries on the Vedas and Puranas. His birth and death dates are uncertain, but his writings have been influential in preserving Tamil literary traditions.

Another notable figure with the surname Palaniswamy was Aru Palaniswamy, a revered Tamil siddhar (a spiritually accomplished master) who lived in the 16th century. He was known for his contributions to the fields of alchemy, medicine, and yoga, and his writings have been preserved in various Tamil manuscripts.

During the 17th century, a prominent Palaniswamy family resided in the town of Madurai, which was an important cultural and religious center in Tamil Nadu. This family was known for their patronage of the arts and their involvement in the administration of the Madurai Nayak kingdom.

In the 19th century, a scholar and poet named Aru Palaniswamy Pillai gained recognition for his works in Tamil literature, particularly his translations of Sanskrit texts into Tamil. He was born in 1818 and passed away in 1893.

While the surname Palaniswamy has its roots in Tamil Nadu, it has since spread to other parts of India and throughout the global Tamil diaspora. However, its historical significance remains firmly rooted in the cultural and religious traditions of the Tamil region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Palaniswamy

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Palaniswamy.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Palaniswamy was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Palaniswamy was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Palaniswamy, please contact us.

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